Psycho—Universal Pictures (Blu-ray)

Video: 3/5
Audio: 3.5/5
Extras: 3.5/5

One of the most shocking films of all-time, Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho", is now available on Blu-ray! Join the Master of Suspense on a chilling journey as an unsuspecting victim (Janet Leigh) visits the Bates Motel and falls prey to one of cinemas most notorious psychopaths - Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). Featuring one of the most iconic scenes in film history, the infamous "Shower Scene", Psycho has become a cultural phenomenon.

One of the most classic horror films of all time finally finds its way to Blu-ray. Universal does a pretty good job with the high definition presentation. The image is nicely detailed and the print seems to be in pretty good shape. You will still notice some minor wear and tear but it rarely distracts. Contrast is solid and shadow detail is preserved nicely. Some scenes can appear slightly flat and I was hoping for a bit more dimensionality from the remaster. The Blu-ray also includes a newly mastered 5.1 mix that does a great job of not calling a lot of attention to itself. The mix never sounds hokey and atmosphere is preserved nicely. Dynamic range is obviously limited a bit by its age but thankfully the mix never sounds harsh or shrill.

Lots of extras on this release and most of them revolve around the history of the film and its creation. You get some storyboarding, behind the scenes features, interviews and breakdowns of some of the more famous sequences. You also get a look at the director’s legacy and a feature commentary with a Hitchcock historian.

Honestly, who doesn’t love this film? It has never looked or sounded better and fans will appreciate the supplements. I was hoping for a bit more from the video, but it’s still a satisfying presentation. Recommeded.

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